NBA Finals bet may have led to home invasion

By Lauren Baheri

Published: Friday, June 20, 2014 at 02:50 PM.

A Gastonia man and his boyfriend say they’re scared to return home after three men kicked in their front door and robbed them at gunpoint. The couple was forced onto the ground with a shotgun pointed at them while the men robbed them, according to police.

John Adams said he believes the violence was over a bet on the NBA finals game.

He and his boyfriend had allowed a friend, her young child and boyfriend to stay with them at their Cedar Ridge apartment on Herman Drive.

Sunday night Adams said he agreed to let them have some friends over to watch the NBA finals game – the San Antonio Spurs versus the Miami Heat. Adams says the men bet $25 on the game.

When the game was over, Adams’ live-in visitor didn’t pay up. The next day the man came back to the apartment demanding the money, which he didn’t get.

The two men got into an argument, Adams said, and he had to call police.

“I’ve never been in a situation like that,” he said. “That same night I told them they had to leave.”

A Gastonia man and his boyfriend say they’re scared to return home after three men kicked in their front door and robbed them at gunpoint. The couple was forced onto the ground with a shotgun pointed at them while the men robbed them, according to police.

John Adams said he believes the violence was over a bet on the NBA finals game.

He and his boyfriend had allowed a friend, her young child and boyfriend to stay with them at their Cedar Ridge apartment on Herman Drive.

Sunday night Adams said he agreed to let them have some friends over to watch the NBA finals game – the San Antonio Spurs versus the Miami Heat. Adams says the men bet $25 on the game.

When the game was over, Adams’ live-in visitor didn’t pay up. The next day the man came back to the apartment demanding the money, which he didn’t get.

The two men got into an argument, Adams said, and he had to call police.

“I’ve never been in a situation like that,” he said. “That same night I told them they had to leave.”

Around 4 a.m. Wednesday, Adams said he and Miller had fallen asleep on the couch when they heard a loud noise.

The door was kicked in and three men walked inside, one holding a shotgun, he said.

According to police, the men forced Adams and Miller to get on the ground while they took Adams’ wallet, the couple’s Xbox, both of their cellphones and several pieces of jewelry from their bedroom.

“I was really scared,” he said, “I was just like, ‘Oh my God, I think I’m about to die today.’”

Adams says the men threatened to shoot them before leaving with their items.

“They were like don’t get up for 10 minutes or we’re going to come back and shoot this up,” he said.

So far no arrests have been made in the case, Sgt. Heath McMullen with Gastonia Police.

The two men believe one of the men that robbed them was a man with the nickname, “Pookie.” Police say they’re following up all leads but could not say if the man identified as “Pookie” was a suspect.

Adams says they’re now staying at his parent’s home until they can find a new place to live.

“I’m still shook up,” he said. “I can’t even sleep at night because I’m thinking somebody’s going to come in and rob me.”

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.